It was
funny how things can change depending on your surroundings. When
around their classmates and opulent members of their society,
who attend festive events to soak in each other's wealth and
brown-nose anyone who had the potential of becoming a beneficial
asset, they put their walls up. They watched the foolishly vivacious
group below them, cringing at the raucous of false-chuckles
filling the room. It was always fake. A façade all aristocrats
put up, including themselves. When they were introduced to young
wealthy girls, the two pasted charming grins on and greeted the women
accordingly. When the aforementioned girl would attempt to get to
know either of them, they would disclose nothing. The girl had
already been repudiated. She never stood a chance. No one did.
They always played malicious mind games to push the unworthy
away, leaving them again in their own world, just the way they liked
it.

In their world, every
wall came down, no masks, no acts. There was nothing they could hide
from each other when they were alone. It was their own private haven.

Unable to bear the
party and its guests any longer, the older boy nudged the other.

"Hikaru?" the
younger blinked up at him in question.

"Let's go outside,
yeah? This place is so boring, it might rub off on us." He said
with a light grin, reaching for Kaoru's hand in a perfunctory
manner, despite anyone who would see. Hikaru prudently lead to
the exit of the manor, Kaoru having no choice but to follow, not that
he would have gone with another option anyway.

The sounds of
aristocracy began to fade into nothing as they made their way to the
gardens, the moment making Kaoru's heart race, getting a thrill out
of the thought that they were running like fugitives to a place of
acceptance. Kaoru subconsciously tightened his hold on Hikaru's
hand, sending a short jolt of electricity up his arms and a swarm of
butterflies to his stomach.

They soon reached a
large fountain, and after looking it over, decided it was a valid
spot for them to be themselves. Hikaru sat on the edge of the
fountain, Kaoru shortly following, settling next to him and resting
his head on the older boy's shoulder. Hikaru reached for Kaoru's
hand and linked their fingers, sitting in silence. The younger boy
allowed a ghost of a smile to grace his features, comfortable in
their bubble of peace.

"Kaoru..?"

"Hmm?" the
aforementioned boy looked up in question at his best friend.

"Mom has started
talking to me about marriage…" he said quietly, looking back into
hazel, almost golden, eyes. Kaoru nodded, the smile from before
covered a small amount of contrition.

"Yeah…me too. She
wants me to marry into a family that'll benefit us. I don't think
she's found one yet though." He replied solemnly. Hikaru's grip
tightened on Kaoru's hand, a daunted look crossing his face.

"Kaoru, what if…"
he began, but couldn't continue. He instead looked away from the
face before him in vulnerability, his hand shaking a bit in fear
while clasping the other boy's.

Kaoru shook his head,
already knowing what his companion wanted to ask, running his thumb
over the back of Hikaru's hand in a placating manner.

"We can't worry
about that right now. When we started all this we knew that was going
to happen eventually, didn't we?"

"Well, that's crap
if you ask me!" Hikaru spat, suddenly standing up and clenching his
fist.

"Hika—"

"Kaoru, why can't
you and I be together?" he said capriciously, already aware
of the answer. Kaoru looked at him, smiling sadly at the older boy.

"Because…our love
style isn't acceptable."

Hikaru's eyes widened
in shock, as if this was the first time this information had been
disclosed to him. His face softened as he approached Kaoru, cupping
his face with both hands and looking into those amazing golden eyes.

"…But that isn't
fair.."

"Life isn't fair.
That's just the way things go." Kaoru replied in a gentle
half-whisper, leaning into the warmth emitted by Hikaru's hand,
placing his own hand over it. Hikaru leaned forward, brushing his
lips against Kaoru's in a chaste kiss. He just couldn't
understand it. Why were they forbidden? Why is it that the one person
who could read him like an open book and understand everything he did
wasn't allowed to love him? Because they were too much alike
physically? Who decided what kind of love was acceptable or not? Who—

"HIKARU!!"

The two boys suddenly
pulled apart, jumping back from each other. Hikaru looked for the
source of the voice, sighing in relief to find that his mother had
called from further away, unable to see the boys' exchange from her
position.

"You should go."
Kaoru stated, looking away from the person he had just been showing
affection to. Hikaru nodded.

"Yeah. Catch you
later?"

"Yeah. See you"
Kaoru waved slightly, watching as his most important person trotted
over to his mother. And so their time together was over, he thought
to himself, brushing a finger across his lips. It was always like
that. A fleeting, ephemeral moment in time for the two of
them. He couldn't complain. Those moments were to be cherished, for
they were lucky to have any in a world where you are always being
watched by nosy aristocrats.

"Hikaru! There you
are. Come, there's this young lady I want you to meet. She's the
daughter of…"

End.

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